Today’s edition of quick hits. * As a long-term economic policy, I’m not sure this is going to cut it: “The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate by half a percentage point today, the second rate cut in nine days, in an aggressive move to try to prevent a recession. The central bank cut […]
“Surprisingly liberal,” and surprisingly brutal
The latest anti-McCain attack ad is surprisingly captivating. Kevin Drum noted that he loves it because “it’s just so … Republican.” It attacks viciously, it smears without compunction, and the production values are first rate. It’s great. The question is, will $20 million worth of airplay (or whatever it’s getting) be enough to save Mitt […]
Fox News’ ratings take another slide
I’ll admit it; I have a special fondness for news about Fox News’ declining ratings. There’s just something about the drop in numbers that helps restore my faith in the American political system. Eric Boehlert has the latest, in a great piece on why the Republican network is poised to have a very rough year. […]
Bush tells Congress about his willingness to ignore the law
Throughout his first six years in office, Bush had a habit of signing congressional legislation into law, but using “signing statements” to explain which parts of the law he didn’t feel like following. For the better part of 2007, the president behaved himself, sticking to the more traditional sign-or-veto approach embraced by his predecessors, but […]
Note to House Republicans: Last one out, turn off the lights
A few months ago, there was a spate of retirement announcements among House Republicans, but it wasn’t too big a deal. The announcements were a little early, but the numbers were in line with normal turnover that happens in practically every cycle. But what started as a modest trend is starting to look like an […]
Is it better to be lucky or good?
There were plenty of political obituaries written for John McCain eight months ago, when his campaign was struggling to make payroll, the senator’s top aides quit, and he could no longer afford a campaign bus, which all looks rather amusing in hindsight, given that he’s now the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination. So, how’d […]
Edwards’ departure: What happens now?
This morning I’d made a bunch of notes for a post about whether the delegate-free Democratic primary in Florida was of any real consequence. The Clinton campaign, not surprisingly, was aggressively making its case that it did, the Obama campaign argued the opposite. My conclusion was going to be that it mattered if the media […]
Wednesday’s campaign round-up
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers: * Hillary Clinton got a little help in California yesterday: “California Rep. Maxine Waters, a powerful member of the Congressional Black Caucus, announced in a conference call with reporters she has decided to […]
Anxiety overcomes conservatives as McCain solidifies frontrunner status
Last night, not too long after John McCain was declared the winner of Florida’s Republican primary, National Review’s Michael Graham wrote an item called, “It’s all over.” Assuming there is no shocking revelation or health issue, the GOP nomination is over. Conservatives need to start practicing the phrase “Nominee presumptive John McCa….” Sorry, I can’t […]
John Edwards to end presidential campaign today
I noticed this morning that John Edwards had cancelled some events scheduled in Feb. 5 states today, and would instead travel to New Orleans to deliver a speech. “Hmm,” I thought, “that seems odd.” Apparently, there was a logical explanation for the scheduling change: the AP is reporting that John Edwards is ending his presidential […]